Tear strip arrangement for a cup-shaped closure lid for containers of synthetic plastic material



Jan. 24, 1967 F. MUHLHOFF 3,300,081

TEAR STRIP ARRANGEMENT FOR A CUP-SHAPED CLOSURE LID FOR CONTAINERS OF SYNTHETIC PLASTIC MATERIAL Filed Sept. 8, 1964 United States Patent 3,300,081 v TEAR STRIP ARRANGEMENT FOR A CUP-SHAPED CLOSURE LID FOR CONTAINERS OF SYN- THETIC PLASTIC MATERIAL Friedrich Muhlholf, Arnimstrasse 105, Cologne-Bickendorf, Germany Filed Sept. 8, 1964, Ser. No. 425,370 Claims priority, application $germany, Sept. 13, 1963,

58, 5 4 Claims. (Cl. 22054) My present invention relates to a container of synthetic plastic material, especially an oil container of the type wherein the filling opening, after the filling operation, is closed by means of a cup-shaped permanent closure lid in which the lower wall of the lid is provided with a frusto-conical portion and the frustrum thereof is formed with a tear strip serving to constitute a pouring or dispensing opening when removed.

It has previously been proposed to form a tear strip for lids of this character by the provision of two parallel radially spaced indentations or grooves in the frustrum of the frusto-conical portion with the area between the indentations defining a ring-like tear strip. A pull tab engages one point of the tear strip and enables the strip to be removed. By the use of the above-mentioned indentations or grooves, and when the tab is pulled, the strip is uniformly sheared from the closure lid so that it can easily be removed.

The object of this invention is to provide a simplified tear strip arrangement which includes a single circular groove in the frustrum of the frusto-conical portion of the lid, a slit extending inwardly from the groove towards the center of the frustrum, and a tab on the frustrum located adjacent the groove and slit operative upon being pulled to separate the tear strip fro-m the frustrum to provide a pouring or dispensing opening.

Additional objects and advantages of the invention will become more readily apparent from the following detailed description and annexed drawings, in which drawlugs:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view showing the cup-shaped lid sprung into position within the filling opening of the top wall of a container, the view being taken along line A-B of FIG. 2, and

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the closure lid.

As disclosed in the drawings, a container C such as an oil can made of synthetic plastic material is formed with a filling opening 0 in its top Wall 2. The opening 0 is adapted to be closed by a permanent closure lid 1.

To form the filling opening, the top wall 2 is shaped to provide a bead-like formation 7 and integrally formed with and projecting radially outward of the formation 7 is a vertical wall 10 which terminates in an inwardly directed horizontal flange 8 with the formation 7, wall 10 and flange 8 defining an annular groove 9. The flange 8 which constitutes the upper limit of the filling opening is disposed quite close to the top wall 2 whereby the parts forming the filling opening are of relatively short high dimensions thereby permitting the easy stacking of the containers.

The lid 1 is substantially cup-shaped and includes a lower wall 5, a side wall 3 and an upper margin 4 extending outward relative to the wall 3 and being provided with a conical surface. A vertical portion 6 is formed at the outer edge of the lower wall 5 and merges with wall portion 6a which extends inwardly and downwardly from the side wall 3.

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The lower wall 5 is provided with a frusto-conical portion 13 and frustrum or top wall 12 lies in the same plane as the horizontal flange 8 of the filling opening. A continuous indentation or groove 11 is formed in the furstrum or wall 12 (FIG. 2) and a notch or slit 15 extends radially inward from the groove and terminates approximately at the center of the wall. A pull tab 14 extends upwardly from the wall 12 adjacent the notch 15 (FIG. 1). It is also possible for the slit 15 to follow an arcuate path.

Upon the lid 1 being pressed into the filling opening, the side wall 3 sealingly engages the beadlike formation 7 by reason of inherent elastic deformation. The margin 4 engages in the groove 9 in a like manner and the vertical portion 6 imparts to the lid a reinforcement at its lower area so that the side wall 3 which is compressed by the formation 7 is drawn downwardly around the surface of such formation whereby the margin 4 will spring upwardly by reason of its conical surface and rest firmly against the flange 8. At the same time, the flange 8 secures the lid 1 in its sealing position.

When it is desired to open the container to dispense the contents, the tab 14 is grasped and pulled and by reason of the indentation 11 and the radial notch 15, an opening is formed in the wall 12. The frustro-conical portion 13 serves as a pouring spout and any drippage will be trapped in the area bounded between the portion 13, wall 5 and wall 3.

From the above description, it will be appreciated that the tear strip arrangement is simpler than that previously proposed, highly effective and cheaper to produce.

The invention is not ot be confined to any strict conformity to the showing in the drawings but changes or modifications may be made therein so long as such changes or modifications mark no material departure from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A container of synthetic material, particularly a container for oil, comprising a body having a top wall, means defining a filling opening in the top wall and a permanent cup-shaped closure lid for closing the filling opening after the container has been closed, said closure having a top wall, a tear-means for said top wall defined by a single circular groove in the wall, a tear strip on the top wall located adjacent said groove and a slit adjacent said tear strip communicating with said groove and extending inwardly toward the center of the top wall to permit the tear strip to be separated from the top wall for providing a pouring opening.

2. The container as claimed in claim 1 in which said slit extends radially inwardly from said groove and terminates adjacent the center of the wall.

3. In a container of synthetic material, particularly a container for oil, a body having a top wall, a filling opening for the top including a bead-like formation on the top wall, a vertical wall joining the bead-like formation and an inwardly directed flange at the free end of the vertical wall, a lid for closing said filling opening comprising a vertical side wall, an enlarged upper margin, a bottom wall extending inwardly a short distance from the side wall, and an upwardly extending frusto-conical portion merging with said bottom wall so that when the lid is sprung into the filling opening, the vertical side wall lies tightly against the bead-like formation and the enlarged upper margin fits snugly in the groove formed adjacent the juncture between said bead-like formation and said 3 4 vertical wall with said flange overlapping the enlarged References Cited by the Examiner upper margin for holding the lid in place, a tear-off 1 UNITED STATES PATENTS means for the frustrum of sand frusto-conlcal portion defined by a single circular groove in such =frustrum, a tear 2,661,128 12/1953 Rfeke 222529 strip on the frustrum located adjacent said circular groove 5 3,083,858 4/1963 Bledstem 220 27 and a slit adjacent said tear strip communicating With said groove and extending inwardly toward the center of FOREIGN PATENTS the frustrum for permitting the tear strip to be separated 234, 11/ 1963 Austriafrom the frustrum for providing a pouring opening. 4. The container as claimed in claim 1 in which said 10 THERON CONDON Prlmary Examine" slit follows an arculate path. G. T. HALL, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A CONTAINER OF SYNTHETIC MATERIAL, PARTICULARLY A CONTAINER FOR OIL, COMPRISING A BODY HAVING A TOP WALL, MEANS DEFINING A FILLING OPENING IN THE TOP WALL AND A PERMANENT CUP-SHAPED CLOSURE LID FOR CLOSING THE FILLING OPENING AFTER THE CONTAINER HAS BEEN CLOSED, SAID CLOSURE HAVING A TOP WALL, A TEAR-MEANS FOR SAID TOP WALL DEFINED BY A SINGLE CIRCULAR GROOVE IN THE WALL, A TEAR STRIP ON THE TOP WALL LOCATED ADJACENT SAID GROOVE AND A SLIT ADJACENT SAID TEAR STRIP COMMUNICATING WITH SAID GROOVE AND EXTENDING INWARDLY TOWARD THE CENTER OF THE TOP WALL TO PERMIT THE TEAR STRIP TO BE SEPARATED FROM THE TOP WALL FOR PROVIDING A POURING OPENING. 